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Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 703, 27 August 1870, Page 2

A petition, signed by the majority of the majority of tho business people in town, addressed to his Honor the Superintendent has been forwarded per Charles Edward to Nelson. The memorial represents the desirability of extending the protective works, recently completed at the south end of Gladstone-street, to the Kennedy-street Wharf, which, it is anticipated, would be the means of staying further injury to the north bank of the Buller between Gladstone and Kennedy-streets j and it also recommends to his Honor's favorable consideration the application of Mr M'Leod to construct a wharf at the end of Gladstone-street. A serious accident occurred at Addison's Flat yesterday to a miner, named D. Maloney, at the mining claim known as Black and party's. Maloney, it appears, went down the shaft and was under the impression that Black was at the windlass ; the latter had, however, gone away and in consequence Maloney was precipitated to the bottom of the sliaft, a depth of upwards of forty feet, both his logs being broken by the fall. The injured man was conveyed to the District- Hospital yesterday, when it was discovered that he had sustained a compound fracture of both limbs. The people of Addison's Plat have been wisely moving in the matter of Government aid to works for supplying water to the goldfields. Through one of their number they have communicated with Mr Kynnersley, M.H.R., on the subject, and that gentleman has readily furnished all the information he can with regard to the probable method of expending the money which the General Government propose to procure for these works. A preliminary meeting was held at the Plat a few nights ago, and we understand that a general meeting of the residents is to be held this evening in connection with the same matter. There is considerable wisdom in tho inhabitants of mining districts thus taking time by the forelock.

The Gold Duty Bill, providing an ad valarem duty upon the export of gold, has been read a second time in the House of Kepresentatives. The" alteration is not one that has formed the subject of any serious contention by the miners, as the banks are almost the sole exporters of the precious metal, and they possess sufficient means at their command to avoid the disadvantage of exporting metal containing a quantity of alloy. The proposed change will not have the effect of an increased price being given for gold, while it will render the collection of the duty less simple and open the way for fraud being practised upon the revenue. By advertisement it will be seen that sections No, 67 and 86, situated on the coalreserve, are withdrawn from occupation under a business license, having been thrown open for communication between Lyttelton and Cobden-streets. Constable Stephenson who, for the past two years, has been stationed in Charleston will be shortly located in Westport, to till the vacancy caused by the removal of Constable Hunter to that district.

In the case, Davis v. Weitzell, called on at Charleston on Thursday, there was no appearance of the plaintiff. Mr Horn, on behalf of the defendant, asked Mr Broad to represent the circumstances to Mr Whitefoord, Resident Magistrate at the Ahaura, and in reply it was stated by the Bench that the necessary representation would be made. The case was struck out. A party, just returned from the Matakitaki furnishes a few particulars respecting the workings above the Lyell. He describes the track between that locality and the Lyell as execrable. The surrounding country is, however, favorably spoken of as an agricultural district, and a great many notices aro posted of intention to apply for agricultural leases in the neighborhood of Fern Plat. About 70 or 80 miners are estimated to be at present located on the Matakitaki, but comparatively little gold is getting. Provisions and other necessaries are supplied by two stores at the Junction, while a third is situatedabouttwo mile 3 above the Junction. Between the Lyell and the Matakitaki a few parties have set in and completed works of considerable magnitude. Stewart and party have been engaged from five to six months in bringing in a rajce, capable of carrying six heads of water, and they expect to complete the work in a month. Three mileslower, Moranand party are constructing fluming to convey four heads of water. The race will be carried across the Buller river, which will be spanned by wire ropes upon which the boxes will be laid. The undertaking is a considerable one, at the same time, the party express themselves very hopefully as to their future prospects. The ground is estimated to yield from £4 to £lO weekly per man, and their present area will afford remunerative labor for two to three years. A few parties are working up the Maruia and other tirbutaries of the Buller, with results sufficiently remunerative to compensate them for their labor, in addition to the increased cost of living and difficulty in obtaining provisions and mining necessaries. A large seal, measuring about 9 feet in length, was washed-up on the beach near Nichol's Half-way House, on Thursday last.